The seventh Murderbot adventure is set immediately after the events of Network Effect, where Preservation and the University are attempting to convince the Pre-Corporate Rim colonists not to sign indentured contracts with the ruthless Barish-Estranza corporation. Complicating matters are the people and machines still being exposed to mysterious alien contamination, and the fact that Murderbot has no armor and is also glitching out due to a false memory disrupting its functions.
The first half of the novel is more "Murderbot antics" than story, and while Murderbot antics are always entertaining, it was starting to feel like filler until the story shifted into a new gear about halfway through. At from that point it's as good a tale as any in the Murderbot canon. The suspensful climax had a very Western movie feel to it that I found delightful.